Volunteer

Community Educators

Community Educators prevent sexual violence in our community by presenting educational programs to students in local schools. Volunteers choose one of two possible program tracks: Safe Touch Educators or Start Strong Educators.

Safe Touch Educators present our “Safe Touch” child sexual abuse prevention programs in local elementary schools. This program teaches children about good, bad, and uncomfortable touches; to trust their instincts; how to “say no, get away, and tell someone;” and to always tell a trusted adult about uncomfortable touches.

Start Strong Educators present our “Start Strong” program to local students in middle and high schools. The mission of this program is to prevent peer-to-peer perpetration of violence among adolescents. To do so, we aim to change cultural norms related to consent, flirting, sexual misconduct, and bystander intervention. This volunteer position requires a slightly more intense time commitment than Safe Touch as these programs are presented over the course of multiple days.

“When people ask me what it’s like volunteering at the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, my first response is to say, ‘It’s so much fun!’ People are usually surprised to hear that, of course, but it’s the truth. I am a Community Educator with the OCRCC, and it is a blast.”

Safe Touch Educators:

- Present Safe Touch programs to local elementary school students.
– Represent the Center by tabling at community events.
– Attend in-service training meetings every other month.

Commitment

- Complete 39 hours of training.
– Present at least four programs per month.
– Nine-month commitment to the Center following volunteer training.

Training

Safe Touch Educator training will begin on Saturday, August 16, 2014. In general, training sessions are held on Saturdays and Tuesday evenings, with some exceptions. View the 2014 Safe Touch Training Schedule, and please note that it may be subject to change.

Start Strong Educator training will begin on Thursday, September 4, 2014. In general, training sessions are held on Saturdays and Thursday afternoons/evenings, with some exceptions. View the 2014 Start Strong Training Schedule, and please note that it may be subject to change.